Jim Irsay appears to be keeping his checkbook shut this offseason as the Indianapolis Colts have made no significant signings on the free agent market to improve their team beyond its current state. However, this should not come as a big surprise to Colts fans as Indianapolis is already up against the cap as it is.
Irsay has made it clear that he wants to make Peyton Manning the highest paid player in NFL history (and rightfully so) which leaves very little money, if any, for the Colts to spend in free agency. In fact, with the Colts currently up against the salary cap of 120 million imposed by the new collective bargaining agreement, they may even have to find ways to cut down on their current payroll to make room for Manning’s big deal.
Fortunately for the Colts, it appears as though Manning is fine with taking a contract that is heavy in the final years as far as yearly salary with taking a lesser salary in the beginning years of the deal. Manning has stated that he does not need to receive the 20 million dollar annual salary (the most ever) that the Colts seem willing to pay in order for the Colts to spend the money in other areas.
What Indianapolis has done, however, is take care of some of their own. On Friday the Colts re-signed safety Melvin Bullitt and placekicker Adam Vinatieri. Bullitt projects to be the starting strong safety in 2011 next to Antoine Bethea while Vinatieri is widely known as one of the best kickers in NFL history despite being in the later years of his career.
Unfortunately for Indianapolis, one of the players they elected not to sign, linebacker Clint Session, will be facing them twice a year after inking a five year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
